Absorbent article with sensor

A system for monitoring an absorbent article designed to absorb and contain bodily exudates, the system comprising:

• an absorbent article comprising an optical property changing indicator adapted to change at least one optical property in response to the presence or absence of bodily exudates, wherein the absorbent article and the indicator form one integral unit;
• and
• an optical sensor detector device comprising a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, an optical sensor disposed within the housing, a processor and memory storage disposed within the housing to provide data processing on the optical sensor detector device, and a powered light source disposed within the housing and spaced from the optical sensor, the optical sensor adapted to detect the change of the optical property of the indicator,
• wherein at least one of the absorbent article and the detector device is adapted to be associated together and disassociated from each other, wherein when the absorbent article and the detector device are associated together the light source emits light in a direction towards the absorbent article and the detector device is adapted to detect the change of optical property of the indicator.